Lightning kills about 20 people in the United States each year and hundreds more are severely injured, according to the National Weather Service.
A person out for a meal on Navarre Beach on June 23 became one of those statistics. Navarre Beach Fire Rescue reported the diner suffered minor injuries from the lightning strike.
According to AEM, a self-described essential resource for environmental insights, Florida kept its title in 2024 as the state with the most lightning.
“While lightning fatalities have decreased over the past 30 years, lightning continues to be one of the top storm-related killers in the United States,” the National Lightning Safety Council said. “In addition, lightning injures many more people than it kills and leaves some survivors with life-long health problems.”
‘Underrated killer’: Lightning Safety Awareness Week held June 22-28, 2025
National Lightning Safety Awareness Week started in 2001 in order “to call attention to lightning being an underrated killer,” the National Weather Service said.
This year, the week started June 22 and continues until June 28.
Daily graphics help explain the dangers and how to stay informed.
Florida leads US with number of lightning strikes per square mile
In AEM’s report, Florida retained its rank as the top state for the number of lightning strikes per square mile: 76.
Top 10 states for lightning strikes in 2024
The ‘deadly dozen’: What were people doing when killed by lightning?
According to the National Weather Service and Lightning Safety Council, the 12 activities that contributed to the most lightning fatalities in the U.S. between 2006 and 2024 were:
Hear thunder? Lightning is within striking distance. Here’s how to stay safe
“It is important to understand that there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area,” the Lightning Safety Council warned. “If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm.” Lightning can strike more than 10 miles from a thunderstorm.
“While lightning fatalities have decreased over the past 30 years, lightning continues to be one of the top storm-related killers in the United States. In addition, lightning injures many more people than it kills and leaves some survivors with life-long health problems.”
Many people wait too long to get to a safe place and then go back outside too soon, before the threat is over, the National Weather Service said. “When thunder roars, go indoors.”
“If you can hear thunder, you are in danger; don’t be fooled by blue skies. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles from a thunderstorm, well ahead of any rain, or well after the rain has ended,” the National Lightning Safety Council said.
Lightning safety tips if you’re outside
The National Lightning Safety Council offered this advice to stay safe if you’re outside:
Lightning safety tips if you’re inside
When lightning hits a building, it often follows wiring or plumbing to ground. To be safe, you don’t want to be connected to either. You also want to avoid any metal that could provide lightning with a path from outside your home to inside, such as a doorknob, according to the the National Lightning Safety Council, which offered this advice to stay safe if you’re inside:
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida is No. 1 for amount of lightning. Here’s how to stay safe from ‘underrated killer’
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson and Cheryl McCloud, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
